At the meeting (Source: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn)Quang Ninh (VNA) – The 25th meetingof the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council was convened in Ha Long city, thenorthern province of Quang Ninh, on November 28.
It brought together 120 delegates from the council’s fourmember countries of Cambodia,Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The commission’s dialoguepartners – China and Myanmar,and nearly 25 development partners also sent representatives to the event.
Addressing the meeting, Vietnamese Minister of NaturalResources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, who is also Chairman of the MRC Councilfor 2018 and Chairman of the Vietnam National Mekong Committee, said the MRChas fulfilled its mission of serving socio-economic development of the membercountries over the past more than two decades.
With solidarity and high resolve of the member countries,and valuable and continuous support from the development and dialogue partners,as well as other relevant sides, the commission has reaped significantachievements, he said.
He applauded the important role of the dialogue partners inmanaging water resources in the Mekong River basin and the great financial andtechnical support of the development partners to the MRC which, he said, helps thecommission realise tasks set in its Strategic Plan.
The meeting reviewed the commission’s operation in 2018, andagreed on a work plan for 2019, while assessing the mid-term implementation ofthe 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, the realisation of the action plan of the PakBeng hydropower project and the update on the Design Guidance 2018.
Within the framework of the event, meetings were heldbetween the MRC and its dialogue and development partners, during which bothChina and Myanmar affirmed that they stand ready to cooperate with thecommission.
China said it will continue to cooperate with the MRC in theexchange of information and data as well as experts, promote joint technicalresearch with the commission, and enhance collaboration within the framework ofthe Mekong-Langkang Cooperation.
The development partners also pledged to further theircollaboration and financial and technical support to the MRC in 2019 and theyears to come.
On this occasion, the MRC signed two sponsorship agreementswith the development partners, under which the EU committed 4.82 million EUR (5.4million USD) in support of the commission’s operation during the 2016-2020period.
The German Government also pledged to grant 4 million EUR tothe MRC, through the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GIZ), to enhancecross-border partnerships in water resources at the Mekong River basinin the 2019-2021 period.
The next MRC Council’s meeting is scheduled to be held inlate 2019 in Cambodia which will take over the Chairmanship from Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
